Coin-controlled telephone.



O Patented Ilar. I2, I9OI. J. E. CORDOVEZ. OOIN CONTROLLED TELEPHONE. (Application flled Aug. 16, 1900. (No Model.)

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COIN CONTROLLED TELEPHONE.

(Application flled Aug. 16, 1900.)

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JULIO E. CORDOVEZ, or PANAMA, COLOMBIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 669,875, dated March 12, 1901. Application filed August 16, 1900. Serial No. 27,041. (N0 model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIO E. CORDOVEZ, a citizen of the United States of Colombia, (at present known as the Republic of Colombia,) and a resident of Panama, in the Republic of Colombia, have invented a new and Improved Coin-Controlled Telephone, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple telephonic apparatus in which the introduction of acoin of predetermined value is necessary in order to close the speakingcircnit.

The invention will be fully described hereinafter and its novel features pointed outin the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an exterior perspective View of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section through the receiver-support, showing it in connection with the coin-chute. Fig. 3 is a side View, looking from the right-hand end of Fig. 2, with part of the coin-chute and of the circuit-closer in section; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus with the lid open and parts of the front removed to disclose the interior construction.

The apparatus comprises a suitable casing A, preferably divided into three compartments by horizontal partitions A A In the lowermost compartment B is located the battery C. The next compartment B contains the coin-receptacle D, located under an ap erture A of the partition A The upper compartment B holds the main parts of the apparatus. These consist, first, of a magnetoelectric machine E of any approved construction, with the call-bell F in operative relation thereto, as usual. From one terminal E of the magneto a wire G leads to a contact G, adapted to engage a spring H on the hinged lid A when said lid is closed. A wire G connects the other terminal E of the magneto with the electromagnets of the call-bell, from which another wire G leads to one of the hinges A also connected by a Wire G with a terminal G connected with the earth or with a line to another station. From the wire G3 a wire G leads to a binding-post G connected by a wire G with one terminal of the receiver I, which may be of anyapproved con-.

struction. The other terminal of the receiver is connected by a wire G with a binding-post G This post is connected bya wire J with the secondary winding of the induction-coil J. The other end of the secondary winding is connected by a wire J with a resilient contact-arm H, secured to the lid A The receiverlnormally rests upon a dished supporting-plate K, having a stem K, which passes through a recess A in the lid A, the stem being under the influence of a coiled spring L, which raises the support when the receiver is removed therefrom. The stem K carries a conducting cross-plate K movable between the contact-arms H H and adapted to engage only one of them at atime. When the support K is depressed, as shown in Fig. 2, the plate K engages the arm H. Said plate also permanently engages a further contact-arm H connected by a wire J and through the medium of one of the hinges A with a wire J leading to the binding-post J connected with the line.

With the stem K moves a lever M, the latter having, for instance, an aperture to receive said stem and being held between the plate K and a nut K This lever is fulcrumed at M upon an arm M extending from the coin-chute N, and preferably is in electrical connection therewith, although this is not necessary. The coin-chute has an orifice N for the insertion of the coin and has an inclined curved bottom N which terminates short of the in nerend of the chute. The coin after rolling off said bottom N rests upon a pivoted coin-support O, fulcrumed at O to the coin-chute and in electricalconnection therewith. The other end of the support 0 is of sufficient weight (or it might be springpressed) to keep the coin-receiving end of the support up as long as no coin rests thereon. This coinreceiving end is made with upward flanges or is U-shaped. (See Fig. 2.) The lower end of the coin-chute is open, so that the coin could escape therefrom were it not for the fact that at the time the coin is introduced the outlet of the coin-chute is partially blocked by a projection M on the retaininglever M. This is the case at the time the receiver I is off the support K, so that the spring I without closing the circuit.

L moves said support into its upper position. The end of the coin-chute is approximately above the opening A When depressed by a coin, the coin-support 0 comes in contact at its weighted end with a screw P, insulated from the coin-chute and connected by'a wire J with one of the hinges A and with a Wire J leading from one pole of the battery 0. The other pole of the battery is connected by a wire J with another of the hinges and by a wire J with one terminal of any suitable microphone or transmitter Q, the other terminal of which connects by a wire J with the primary winding of the induction-coil J, which winding at its opposite end is connected by a wire J with the contacbspring H. Q, Fig. 1, is the mouthpiece of the transmitter. While'the coin-support O has a permanent electrical connection with the contact-plate K through the medium of the retaining-lever M and of the coin-chute N, I prefer for safetys sake to provide an additional connection operative when the receiver I is taken off its support K. This connection is made by a spring-contact H connected with the coin-chute by a wire H The operation is as follows: A person desiring telephonic communication will (without removing the receiver I from its support) first turn the crank E which operates the magneto E. This will ring the bell Fat the calling-station and at the central as well, the circuit being as follows: from ground connection G through wire G hinge A wire G coils of bell F, wire G magneto E, wire G, contact G, spring H, contact-plate K spring H wire J hinge A wire J and bindingpost J to the line and central. Then the person should remove the receiver I from its support K, so that the contact-plate K will engage the springs H H while remaining in contact with the spring H but coming out of contact with the spring H. At the same time the lever M is swung on its fulcrum M, so that the lug M projects across the outlet of the coin-chute N. Then a coin of proper denomination is deposited in the slot N, (which is made of proper width and length to prevent the entrance of coins that are too large or too thick,) and this coin rolls on the bottom N and on the coin-support 0. If the coin is too small, it will pass under the lug M If, however, the coin is of the right dimensions, it will be arrested by the lug M as shown in Fig. 3, and then the weight of the coin will tilt the support 0 upon its fulcrum O, bringing the lever in contact with the screw P. Should the coin be too light, it will not be able to establish the contact. Assuming the contact has been made as described, the local or primary speaking-circuit is closed as follows: from the battery 0 bywires J and J to the transmitter Q, wire J primary winding of coil J, wire J spring H, contact-plate K spring H wire H and coin-chute N, (also from plate K to lever M and coin-chute N,) coin-support O, screw P, wires J and J to other pole of battery. The secondary or line speaking-circuit is as follows: ground connection G wires G G", binding'post G receiver I, binding-post G wire J, secondary winding of coil J, wire J spring H, contactplate K spring H wires J and J, bindingpost J and line to central station. The operator at the central station then makes the desired connection in the usual manner, and the two persons can communicate with each other. When the conversation is ended, the receiver I is put back on its support K, causing the lever M to swing back into the position shown in Fig. 2 and releasing the coin, which passes through the aperture A into the collecting-box D.

In the apparatus of the called subscriber the parts occupy the same position as described with reference to the callingsubscribers apparatus, with the exception of the coin-support O, which not being weighted by a coin remains in the position shown in Fig. 3. It is of course understood that the called subscriber removes his receiver I from its support. At the apparatus of the called subscriber the telephonic message therefore passes through the following circuit: from the line to binding-post J wires J J spring H contact-plate K spring H, wire J sec ondary winding of induction-coil J, wire J, binding-post G receiver I, binding-post G and wires G G to the ground at G It will be understood from the foregoing description that the spring 1-1 and wire H may be dispensed with, the lever M alone being relied upon for conveying the current from the plate K to the coin-chute N. On the other hand, the connection might be made exclusively by means of the spring H and wire H, the lever M in this case not requiring to be of conducting material. It will be further understood that while I have utilized the hinges A to carry the current such construction is not essential.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a telephone apparatus, the combination of the receiver, a support therefor which automatically changes its position according as the receiver rests thereon or not, a movable coin-support, a circuit adapted to be closed by the movement of the coin-support, and a movable coin-retainer operatively connected with the receiver-support and arranged to keep the coin upon the coin-support, and to release the coin when the receiver is put back on its support.

2. In a telephone apparatus, the combination of the receiver, a support therefor which automatically changes its position according as the receiver rests thereon or not, a coinchute, a movable coin-support at the outlet end of the said chute, a circuit adapted to be closed by the movement of the coin-support,

and a coin-retaining lever mounted to swing into the path of the coin at the outlet of the chute, and operatively connected with the receiver-support.

3. In a telephone apparatus, the combination of the receiver, a support therefor which automatically changes its position according as the receiver rests thereon or not, a permanent connection from said support to the line, a contact arranged to be engaged by said support only when the receiver is upon the support, a call-bell circuit of which said contact forms a part, a primary induction- Winding, a transmitter, and a source of electricity connected in series, a contact permanently connected with one end of the said primary winding and adapted to be engaged by the support when the receiver is taken off, a secondary induction-Winding one end of which is connected with the same contact as the primary winding, and the other end with the receiver, a coin-chute, a movable coin-support at the outlet of the chute, a contact connected with the coin-support and arranged to be engaged by the receiver-support when the receiver is taken off, a contact arranged to be engaged by the coin-support when the latter is weighted by a coin, a connection from the last-named contact to said source of electricity, and a coin-retaining lever arranged to move with the receiver-support and to arrest a coin at the outlet of th coin-chute.

4. In a telephone apparatus, the combination of the receiver, a support therefor which automatically changes its position according as the receiver rests thereon or not, a permanent connection from said support to the line, a contact arranged to be engaged by said support only when the receiver is upon the support, a call-bell circuit of which said contact forms a part, a primary induction-winding, a transmitter, and a source of electricity connected in series, a contact permanently connected with one end of the said primary winding and adapted to be engaged by the support when the receiver is taken off, a secondary induction-winding one end of which is connected with the same contact as the primary winding, and the other end with the receiver, a coin-chute, a movable coin-support at the outlet of the chute, a conducting connection from said coin-support to the receiver-support, a contact connected with said source of electricity and arranged to be engaged by the coin-support when the latter is weighted by a coin, and a coin-retaining 1ever arranged to move with the receiver-support and to arrest a coin at the outlet of the coin-chute.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIO E. OORDOV'EZ. 

